What Happens If You Don't Wear Invisalign As Directed?

When it comes to orthodontic treatment, not many options offer the same freedom and flexibility as Invisalign®. The clear aligners straighten your teeth and can be removed when eating or brushing. However, this benefit may come with some drawbacks. When patients do not wear their aligners often enough, it can impede their progress or cause a relapse. So how does Invisalign work, and what happens if you forgot to wear Invisalign for a week?

At MINT dentistry, we want your Invisalign treatment to be as successful as possible. When you arrive for an Invisalign consultation, we review the process in full, including how long you need to wear your aligners. Below, you can read about the process and learn what happens to your teeth when the trays are not worn as directed. Contact our office in Dallas and Houston, TX, for further questions about treatment.

How does Invisalign work?

Misaligned teeth not only affect your appearance but they also affect your overall oral health. Invisalign has been a trusted solution for countless patients who want a minimally invasive way to straighten their teeth. So how does Invisalign work? As a provider of Invisalign, MINT dentistry lays out a careful plan at the start of your treatment. We create custom clear aligners that should be worn for a designated amount of time before moving on to the next set.

There are many best practices for Invisalign wearers, including:

• Remove Invisalign aligners when eating or drinking

• Only drink water when the aligners are in place

• Clean the aligners before putting them back in your mouth

• Change aligners every two weeks, or as directed by your dentist

I forgot to wear Invisalign for a week!

Teeth have small, flexible ligaments that connect them to the jawbone. Applying gentle pressure on the ligaments allows them to gradually guide the teeth into the right places. This is how most orthodontic work is performed. When patients leave out their Invisalign aligners for too long, the teeth will begin to shift back into their original positions. In some instances, your aligners may not fit correctly if you try to place them back over your teeth.

One of the benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners can be removed from time to time. Sometimes people take them out for special occasions or high-impact team sports. If you forgot to wear Invisalign for an extended period of time, call MINT dentistry in Dallas and Houston, TX. A relapse in tooth alignment means you may have to wear an earlier set of aligners or get new ones. Unfortunately, this may delay your overall treatment time.

How to prevent a relapse in tooth alignment

The smartest way to protect your teeth and achieve a healthy, beautiful smile is to follow your Invisalign guidelines as given. As a general rule, MINT dentistry recommends wearing the clear aligners for at least 22 hours a day. Maintaining regular check-ups is also important so we can keep your treatment plan on track. Our trained dentists will be able to tell if the aligners were not worn often enough to make the necessary changes.

Get straighter teeth with help from MINT dentistry

Invisalign is one of the most sought-out dental treatments available today. Patients love their aligners because they can straighten their smile without the appearance of traditional metal braces. If your Invisalign does not fit, or if you forgot to wear Invisalign for a certain period of time, call MINT dentistry in Dallas and Houston, TX. We can provide solutions in a friendly and positive environment.